The experiment was conducted in the forage crops and pastures section of DNAP/IZ/UFRRJ, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, to evaluate the dry matter production (DMP) and chemical composition of three tropical forage legumes: puero (Pueraria phaseoloides), archer (Macrotyloma axillare) and perennial soybean (Neonotonia wightii) in two cultivate systems (CS) (supported and free). A randomized block design, in a factorial arrangement was used: (3 species X 2 (CS) X 4 (Repetition), in plots measuring 20m². DMP was significantly different (P<0.05) among CS, where for all of the evaluated species the CS supported presented the largest productions. A significant effect was not observed (P>0.05) for the values regarding CP and ADF of the legumes in each cultivate system. For the values of NDF there was significant difference (P<0.05) among the studied species, and the species that presented larger values was the puero followed by the perennial soybean and the archer. There was significance (P<0,05) of mineral matter from the interaction between legume and cultivation system. The greater value observed in supported system was that of puero, that was different of other species. However, free system showed the highest value to perennial soybean, which was the same to puero but different of archer.
archer; puero and perennial soybean
